With Sarasota's mini-camp in full stride as the team aims to defend it's Ultimus title, a rookie is managing to stand out as a potential future star with some explosive performances.
While rookie Offensive Lineman Stumpy Jones is expected to step into a starting role right away on the Sarasota Offensive Line due to their lack of depth, and Safety Kelvin Harris is looking competent and primed for a future role in the secondary soon, the one turning heads and causing a lot of hubbub is the 3rd choice of Sarasota's: Wide Receiver Saleem Spence.
The tri-national wideout was taken 31st overall, to the surprise of a few rogue analysts who perceived Spence as a Top 10 talent. Those rogue analyses may not be so far-fetched after all, as the Sarasota coaches have been surprised at just how much raw ability Saleem Spence has.
"You can tell looking at all the tape on Spence, from the start of the year to the end, that his running form really improved." said one coach for Sarasota in the strength and conditioning department. "He made sharper cuts as the year progressed, his steps and strides were better, he had an easier time burning cornerbacks. It's no wonder he ran that 4.3 in Combine after running around a 4.5 or 4.6 before he came to the DSFL. Anyone faster than him will probably just get bullied and thrown around by him instead, and now he's learning quickly how to use that size and strength to his advantage."
"His work ethic is what gets me." said an assistant to Sarasota's receiver coach. "It feels like every time out, he's making an effort to be better, he shows up to the field before anyone else, and he's catching passes from anything afterwards, coaches, JUGGS machines, whatever can throw a football at him after practise, and he'll try to polish himself and improve every time he hits the gridiron."
Spence's improvement did not escape notice from other coaches as well, and a callup to the ISFL roster would've been considered, had it not been for Spence making a pre-season verbal commitment to the Portland Pythons to return for a second DSFL season. Spence joins fellow wideout draftee Bayley Cowabunga as a send-down, while three preceding picks in Luke Quick, Chunt The Badger, and Sam the Onion Man are said to have won jobs in the ISFL (the former two for Baltimore and the latter for Orange County). Spence is expected to be on the list for a Sarasota call-up next year however, challenging Season 27 draftee Joseph Radetzky and veteran Tre’Darius J’Vathon for a wide receiver roster spot (pending any future free agent moves or trades.)
"Spence could be a 3rd receiver for us next season for sure." said one coach. "He brings that aggressive possession element and desire for the ball that you don't often see in the DSFL. A lot of receivers are smaller and want to outrun people, but Spence goes right into the interior of the defense to make a catch. He'll be good enough soon to play at an ISFL level, and maybe in a few years he could be something special. He's got the raw tools to make it, and if he keeps learning the little things you need to be a pro, Sarasota could have another star receiver."
Mainstream clickbait media outlets such as ILHT Sports News remain unconvinced, however. Some have pointed out that Spence, despite a strong season for Portland where he caught 80 passes for over 1200 yards in 14 DSFL games, should have his whole body of work negated by one bad game against the Kansas City Coyotes in the Ultimini semifinals. Spence had 1 catch for 11 yards as the Portland passing attack malfunctioned, en route to a 31-21 loss that foiled the Portland march to the Ultimini. This has raised questions about Spence's big game ability, although many feel the underlying reason for mainstream scout media hate on Spence is because he was stealing the thunder of Dallas prospects.
Spence, along with fellow Sarasota send-downs LeBron James III and Quavious McGrady, has since returned to Portland for their mini-camp, as the preseason approaches within the next week and Portland mounts another assault at the Ultimini title that has eluded two strong teams over the last two years.
While rookie Offensive Lineman Stumpy Jones is expected to step into a starting role right away on the Sarasota Offensive Line due to their lack of depth, and Safety Kelvin Harris is looking competent and primed for a future role in the secondary soon, the one turning heads and causing a lot of hubbub is the 3rd choice of Sarasota's: Wide Receiver Saleem Spence.
The tri-national wideout was taken 31st overall, to the surprise of a few rogue analysts who perceived Spence as a Top 10 talent. Those rogue analyses may not be so far-fetched after all, as the Sarasota coaches have been surprised at just how much raw ability Saleem Spence has.
"You can tell looking at all the tape on Spence, from the start of the year to the end, that his running form really improved." said one coach for Sarasota in the strength and conditioning department. "He made sharper cuts as the year progressed, his steps and strides were better, he had an easier time burning cornerbacks. It's no wonder he ran that 4.3 in Combine after running around a 4.5 or 4.6 before he came to the DSFL. Anyone faster than him will probably just get bullied and thrown around by him instead, and now he's learning quickly how to use that size and strength to his advantage."
"His work ethic is what gets me." said an assistant to Sarasota's receiver coach. "It feels like every time out, he's making an effort to be better, he shows up to the field before anyone else, and he's catching passes from anything afterwards, coaches, JUGGS machines, whatever can throw a football at him after practise, and he'll try to polish himself and improve every time he hits the gridiron."
Spence's improvement did not escape notice from other coaches as well, and a callup to the ISFL roster would've been considered, had it not been for Spence making a pre-season verbal commitment to the Portland Pythons to return for a second DSFL season. Spence joins fellow wideout draftee Bayley Cowabunga as a send-down, while three preceding picks in Luke Quick, Chunt The Badger, and Sam the Onion Man are said to have won jobs in the ISFL (the former two for Baltimore and the latter for Orange County). Spence is expected to be on the list for a Sarasota call-up next year however, challenging Season 27 draftee Joseph Radetzky and veteran Tre’Darius J’Vathon for a wide receiver roster spot (pending any future free agent moves or trades.)
"Spence could be a 3rd receiver for us next season for sure." said one coach. "He brings that aggressive possession element and desire for the ball that you don't often see in the DSFL. A lot of receivers are smaller and want to outrun people, but Spence goes right into the interior of the defense to make a catch. He'll be good enough soon to play at an ISFL level, and maybe in a few years he could be something special. He's got the raw tools to make it, and if he keeps learning the little things you need to be a pro, Sarasota could have another star receiver."
Mainstream clickbait media outlets such as ILHT Sports News remain unconvinced, however. Some have pointed out that Spence, despite a strong season for Portland where he caught 80 passes for over 1200 yards in 14 DSFL games, should have his whole body of work negated by one bad game against the Kansas City Coyotes in the Ultimini semifinals. Spence had 1 catch for 11 yards as the Portland passing attack malfunctioned, en route to a 31-21 loss that foiled the Portland march to the Ultimini. This has raised questions about Spence's big game ability, although many feel the underlying reason for mainstream scout media hate on Spence is because he was stealing the thunder of Dallas prospects.
Spence, along with fellow Sarasota send-downs LeBron James III and Quavious McGrady, has since returned to Portland for their mini-camp, as the preseason approaches within the next week and Portland mounts another assault at the Ultimini title that has eluded two strong teams over the last two years.
Player Agent of Wide Receiver Saleem Spence -
Saleem Spence Player Profile: https://forums.sim-football.com/showthre...?tid=28380
Saleem Spence Update Thread: https://forums.sim-football.com/showthre...?tid=28552